Police officers take part in a march to protest against Bolivian President Evo Morales with a sign reading "Bolivians more united than ever" in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on Saturday. Photo: AFP

 Six months after being arrested on coup charges by a Bolivian government allied to her political rival Evo Morales, ex-president Jeanine Anez is still awaiting a trial date.

The 54-year-old, who claims she is the victim of "political persecution," attempted suicide in a jail in La Paz in August while suffering from "severe depression" due to her prolonged pre-trial detention, according to the ex-president's daughter, Carolina Ribera.

In August, a Bolivian court added another six months to Anez's custody, until March 2022, meaning she could spend a year in jail without seeing the inside of a court.

"Evo Morales... is holding her to spread a message of fear to all opposition leaders and all Bolivians who think differently," Ribera told AFP last week.

The conservative Anez had come to power in November 2019 after Morales and senior allies in his Movement for Socialism (MAS) resigned following weeks of protest over his controversial reelection to an unconstitutional fourth term.

As Morales fled into exile after 14 years in power, Anez was the most senior parliamentarian left and was sworn in by congress as interim president, despite the lack of a quorum, with MAS legislators boycotting the session.

Under Anez's administration, Bolivia held elections in October 2020 in which Morales protege Luis Arce stormed to a landslide victory and she handed over the reins of power.

Then in March 2021, Anez was arrested and charged with leading a coup, terrorism, sedition, conspiracy and failure to perform official duties.